This article ranks the ancient sorcerers shown in Jujutsu Kaisen into tiers based on their demonstrated abilities, narrative portrayal, and statements from the manga. You get a clear tier list, then the reasoning behind each placement, including their cursed techniques, combat feats, and role in the story.
Formula
The tier list is not a mathematical formula but a qualitative ranking. Each sorcerer is scored on three axes: combat power (destructive output, speed, durability), technique versatility (number of applications, domain expansion, reverse cursed technique), and narrative impact (how the story frames their strength relative to modern sorcerers). The final tier is an aggregate of these factors, weighted toward demonstrated feats over statements.
Worked Example
Take Ryomen Sukuna as the reference. His combat power is maxed (10/10), his technique versatility is maxed (10/10, including an open-barrier domain and fire arrow), and his narrative impact is maxed (10/10). That gives a perfect score of 30/30, placing him in S+ tier. For comparison, Hajime Kashimo scores 9/10 combat, 7/10 versatility (no domain, but a lethal sure-hit effect), and 8/10 narrative impact, totaling 24/30, placing him in A tier.
Who Counts as an Ancient Sorcerer
Ancient sorcerers in Jujutsu Kaisen are those who lived during the Heian Era (794–1185) or earlier and were reincarnated into modern vessels through cursed objects. This includes:
- Ryomen Sukuna – the King of Curses, originally a human sorcerer
- Hajime Kashimo – a sorcerer from an unspecified ancient era, obsessed with fighting Sukuna
- Hiromi Higuruma – technically a modern sorcerer, but his Judgeman technique is based on ancient rules; he is excluded from this list
- Yorozu – a Heian-era sorcerer with the Construction technique
- Dhruv Lakdawalla – a reincarnated sorcerer with a shikigami domain
- Uro – a Heian-era sorcerer with the Sky Manipulation technique
- Ryu Ishigori – a Heian-era sorcerer with the Cursed Energy Discharge technique
- Kurourushi – a reincarnated sorcerer with a cockroach-based technique
- Reggie – a reincarnated sorcerer with the Contract Replay technique
- Charles Bernard – a reincarnated sorcerer with the Clairvoyance technique
Characters like Kenjaku, who is an ancient sorcerer in a modern body, are included because they retain their original techniques and knowledge.
The Tier List
- S+ Tier: Ryomen Sukuna, Kenjaku
- S Tier: Hajime Kashimo, Yorozu
- A Tier: Ryu Ishigori, Uro, Dhruv Lakdawalla
- B Tier: Kurourushi, Reggie, Charles Bernard
- C Tier: (none – all ancient sorcerers shown so far are at least B)
Reasoning for Each Placement
S+ Tier – The Overwhelming Powers
Ryomen Sukuna is the clear top. He has four arms, two faces, and an immense cursed energy pool. His technique, Cleave and Dismantle, adapts to the target’s toughness, and he has an open-barrier domain, Malevolent Shrine, which is stated to be unstoppable by conventional means. He also has a fire arrow technique and can use reverse cursed technique to heal. In the Shinjuku Showdown arc, he fights multiple top-tier modern sorcerers simultaneously and only loses due to a combination of exhaustion, Mahoraga’s adaptation, and a binding vow. No other ancient sorcerer is portrayed as his equal.
Kenjaku is not a fighter in the same league as Sukuna, but his intelligence and technique make him S+. He has a brain-transfer technique that allows him to steal bodies and their techniques, giving him access to a vast arsenal. He also has an open-barrier domain, Self-Embodiment of Perfection, which he uses to defeat Mahito. He is a master of binding vows and cursed object manipulation. His only loss is to Yuta Okkotsu, who uses a copied technique to catch him off guard, but Kenjaku’s overall threat level is comparable to Sukuna’s due to his scheming.
S Tier – The Elite Fighters
Hajime Kashimo is a close-combat specialist with a cursed energy trait that creates electrical charges. He can enhance his physical stats to the point of overwhelming Hakari, a modern special grade. His technique, Mythical Beast Amber, transforms his body into a lightning-like form, but it kills him after use. In his fight against Sukuna, he lands several hits and forces Sukuna to use his true form, which is a significant feat. However, he lacks a domain expansion and has limited technique versatility, placing him just below the top.
Yorozu uses the Construction technique, which creates anything from cursed energy, but with a high cost. She creates a liquid metal armor and a domain expansion, Threefold Affliction, which is lethal. She fights Sukuna and manages to damage him, but she is ultimately killed. Her technique is powerful but inefficient, and she lacks the raw output of Ryu or the hax of Kenjaku.
A Tier – The Strong Special Grades
Ryu Ishigori has the highest cursed energy output of any sorcerer, modern or ancient. His technique, Cursed Energy Discharge, fires blasts of raw energy. He has a domain expansion, Deadly Sentencing, which is a simple but effective sure-hit. He fights Yuta and Uro simultaneously and holds his own. His weakness is a lack of versatility – he has no reverse cursed technique and his domain is basic.
Uro has the Sky Manipulation technique, which lets her control the “sky” as a vector, redirecting attacks and creating barriers. She is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and has a domain expansion, Horizon of the Captivating Skandha. She fights Yuta and Ryu and survives. Her technique is defensive and tricky, but she lacks the raw power to break through top-tier defenses.
Dhruv Lakdawalla is a reincarnated sorcerer who uses a shikigami-based domain expansion. He can create a domain that automatically attacks anyone inside, but his shikigami are not particularly strong. He is defeated by Yuta, who uses his own domain to overpower him. He is A-tier because he has a domain, but his feats are limited.
B Tier – The Mid-Tier Reincarnated
Kurourushi has a cockroach-based technique that creates swarms of insects that drain cursed energy. He is fast and agile, but he lacks a domain and is defeated by Yuta with moderate difficulty. Reggie has the Contract Replay technique, which lets him create objects from paper, but he is outclassed by Megumi’s ten shadows. Charles Bernard has a clairvoyance technique that lets him see a short future, but he is easily beaten by Hakari. These three are B-tier because they are strong enough to threaten grade 1 sorcerers but not special grade.
How to Use This Tier List
This tier list is for discussion and comparison, not for power-scaling arguments. Use it to understand the relative strength of characters in the series. Remember that matchups matter: a B-tier sorcerer like Kurourushi could beat an A-tier if the matchup is favorable. Also, the list is based on the manga up to the Shinjuku Showdown arc; future chapters may change placements.
Common Misconceptions
One common mistake is ranking Kenjaku below Sukuna because he lost to Yuta. Kenjaku’s loss was due to Yuta’s copied technique and a surprise attack, not a direct power difference. Another misconception is that Kashimo is S-tier because he hurt Sukuna, but he only did so after using his one-time transformation, which kills him. His base form is A-tier at best. Also, don’t confuse “ancient” with “reincarnated” – some reincarnated sorcerers like Reggie are from the modern era, but they are not ancient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the strongest ancient sorcerer in Jujutsu Kaisen?
Ryomen Sukuna is the strongest, as stated repeatedly in the manga and shown in his fights. He has the most versatile technique, an open-barrier domain, and immense physical stats.
Is Kenjaku stronger than Sukuna?
No, Kenjaku is not stronger in direct combat. He is a schemer who wins through preparation and binding vows, but Sukuna’s raw power is far above his.
Why is Kashimo not S+ tier?
Kashimo lacks a domain expansion and has only one technique, which is a suicide move. His base form is strong but not on the level of Sukuna or Kenjaku.
Are all ancient sorcerers special grade?
No, many reincarnated sorcerers are only grade 1 level, like Reggie and Charles. The special grade rating is modern and not directly applicable to ancient sorcerers.
What about the ancient sorcerers from the Culling Game?
The Culling Game features many reincarnated sorcerers, but only a few have named techniques and feats. The ones listed here are the most prominent.
Related
Formula used
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